The 5th Manama Declaration, named after the capital of Bahrain, where the 2024 World Entrepreneurial Investment Forum (WEIF) is being held from Tuesday, aims to promote technologies and products whose innovations can help solve socio-economic and environmental challenges. This reflected the rally’s theme of being able to promote development.
The resulting economic progress can provide the resources needed to invest in sustainable development.
In a message to the forum, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged delegates in Manama to “harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to make the world a better place,” looking ahead to the long-awaited United Nations Future Summit in September. He encouraged them to find a way. A place for all the people and planet we share. ”
The issue of innovation and entrepreneurship as a means to hasten the achievement of the SDGs was highlighted at the edges of the forum, where people with disabilities discussed how technology can overcome obstacles and ultimately create inclusive communities. I’ve provided some information that will help you build.
symbiotic society
WEIF is promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with local, regional and international partners.
The director of the agency, Hashim Hussein, previously said that as 15 percent of people in the Arab region have a disability, innovation and entrepreneurship are important to ensure an inclusive society. Stated.
Tarek Salem, co-founder and CEO of Egypt-based Access Life, which provides various assistive technologies for people with disabilities and the elderly, said on Wednesday. united nations news: “I’m a quadriplegic and can’t move my legs or fingers. I faced the huge challenge of relying on myself.”
He further explained the three phases of the AccessLife program. “The first step is to bring all the medical tools together on one platform, and to educate people with disabilities because they may not know that these tools exist or how to access them. We also have video clips to help you. [with self-reliance]. The second step is to conduct a survey to find tools such as: [are needed] Most are intended for manufacturing them. [Thirdly]And most importantly, we will build an inclusive society for people with disabilities. ”
Innovation and obstacles
Olfa Dababi, a young Tunisian woman with a neurological disorder, shines a spotlight on OLFUS, the company she founded to use digital art to convey various messages, including encouragement for people facing hardship. I came to WEIF to win.
she said united nations news She claimed that she refused to let her disability deprive her of the right to contribute to her community. This was especially important as people are increasingly judged by their appearance and the prevalence of online bullying is only making matters worse.
“I was bullied as a child. I have a disability and [was bullied because of that] But my family was together,” she said.
Speaking from a booth displaying digital art works, Dababi said: Innovation and technology are not only my passion, but also what enable me to do the work I do now… [they] Make yourself available to serve others. ”
She went on to say: “I like to talk about bullying because bullying is not a good thing. I also talk about the importance of accepting who we are and rejecting body shaming. [about] mental health. “
Dababi uses computer technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to create art and print the images on T-shirts and mugs. She hopes to share a message that can help people facing similar challenges.
Abdullah Shabana, a native of Saudi Arabia, focuses on participatory design, an idea started by MIT and the Saudi Intellectual Property Office.
“Participatory design is an initiative that brings together designers and people with disabilities, from research ideas to production ideas. Through participatory design, multiple projects are created,” he said. united nations news.
The project he presented at WEIF was a voice application that serves people with communication difficulties. “This application allows people with disabilities to communicate in the language of the people of the country.”
A ray of hope in Palestine
I’m also talking to united nations news Nadia Musleh was the president of the Women’s Renaissance Society, founded in Ramallah in 1925 as the first project to care for people with disabilities in Palestine.
“We have a rehabilitation center that serves 45 to 60 people with disabilities every day. We provide them with daily plans and programs. In this center, people with disabilities receive a variety of We teach them how to make hand tools, color and paint. We are here to highlight what we have in Palestine,” Musleh told UN News.
“Here with us is Anton, who joined the association at the age of three. He is now 40 years old and specializes in game production,” she explained.
Innovation and the “orange economy”
The Manama Declaration also calls on the international community to promote and leverage promising new sectors such as the creative economy and the “orange economy,” embrace digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, and promote smart agricultural practices that create jobs and achieve economic development. I am asking you to instill the same.
Governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, the media, international organizations and all ecosystem operators should promote entrepreneurship and innovative enterprises towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and this year’s outlook. We are asking for cooperation to promote this. 2050.
The two-page document calls on all stakeholders to work together to foster entrepreneurship and innovation towards achieving the SDGs. Looking ahead to 2050, the report concludes by calling on the international community to “end conflict and rapidly scale up support to women and young people in post-conflict areas.”
The Manama Declaration will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly.
WEIF ends tomorrow with a focus on ‘women, peace and security’, including promoting stability in conflict-affected countries by funding women entrepreneurs
